Reels for tenuous material



May 8, 1962 R. F. HERR REELS FOR TENUoUs MATERIAL 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June l2, 1957 l m' INVENTOR.

Lg' BYRichdrd F. Herr m/@M7 May 8, 1962 Filed June l2, 1957 R. F. HERR REELS FOR TENUOUS MATERIAL 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Richard E Herr IHM/@m0 HHornev May 8, 1962 R. F. HERR 3,033,482

REELs FOR TENUoUs MATERIAL Ri( hdrd F. Herr May 8, 1962 R. F. HERR REELs FOR TENUoUs MATERIAL 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June l2, 1957 R o m. VE 1N..

BYRchdrd F. Herr M/@Lp HHornev 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

Httornev R. F. HERR May s, 1962 REELS FOR TENUOUS MATERIAL Filed June l2, 1957 f E s S E., 3\ G K E S\ w o- States Utllc The present invention relates to reels for handling tenuous material, more particularly to expansible-contractable reels, and the principal object of the invention is to provide new and improved reels of such character.

This invention represents a considerable advance in the reel art by virtue of its simplified, trouble-free mechanism which provides `for expansion and contraction of the reel. Furthermore, the present invention provides a more compact reel than those heretofore known and this makes possible the support of relatively heavy coils of tenuous material having relatively small inside diameters. By way of illustration, conventional reel constructions for accommodating coils having inside diameters of 16 inches could safely accommodate coils weighing no more than about 22,00() pounds; however, a reel constructed in accordance with the present invention and having the same amount of expansion and contraction as prior art reels, can accommodate coils with 16 inch inside diameters weighing up to about 34,000 pounds. 'Ihese and other advantages will readily become apparent from a study of the following description and from the drawings appended hereto.

In the drawings accompanying this specilication and forming a part of this application there are shown, for purpose of illustration, embodiments which the invention may assume and in these drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a preferred embodiment of a reel constructed in accordance with the present invention and showing the reel in expanded relation,

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view thereof,

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 but Showing the reel in contracted relation,

FIGURE 4 is a transverse sectional view generally corresponding to the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3,

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged, exploded perspective view of certain details,

FIGURE 6 is a View similar to FIGURE 3 but showing certain parts separated from the supporting arbor to provide for their replacement thereon with parts of a different size,

FIGURE 7 is a View similar to FIGURE l but illustrating the substitution of certain parts for the corresponding parts shown in FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 8 is a View similar to FIGURE 2 but of the parts shown in FIGURE 7,

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 but of another embodiment of the invention, and

FIGURE 10 is a transverse sectional view generally corresponding to the line 10-10 of FIGURE 9.

Referring to FIGURE l, there is shown an expansiblecontractable reel of the type particularly, although not necessaryily, adapted to be employed in forming strip material into a coil as such material emerges from a conventional strip processing line `or the like. The reel provides a drum 10, see FIGURE 2, supported upon a cantilever mounted arbor 11. Arbor 11 is adapted to be rotatably supported in any conventional manner and when used for coiling purposes, the arbor is normally rotated by any suitable power source (not shown).

Drum 10 is formed of a plurality of drum segments which cooperated to provide the face of the drum and such segments are relatively movable to provide for radial expansion and contraction of the drum for a purpose to appear. In the present embodiment, the drum is formed after ICC of a fixed segment 12 (see especially FIGURE 4) to respective sides of which are pivotally secured respective movable segments 13 and 14. Completing the drum surface (see FIGURE 2) is a wedge member 15 in engagement with the adjoining `free ends of the movable segments.

Fixed segment 12 (see especially FIGURE 4) comprises a structurally integral assembly, Welded or otherwise secured together, formed of a longitudinally extending, sleeve-like hub portion 16 whose interior closely lits over arbor 11, a longitudinally extending arcuate portion 17 forming a part of the drum surface, and a longitudinally extending spacer portion 18 between portion 16, 17. Tubular portions 19 are disposed between portions 16, 17 adjacent the sides of the latter, for receiving therein respective longitudinally extending hinge pins 20 and 21. For a purpose to be seen, hub portion 16 is split longitudinally at 22 and respective portions adjacent the split are grooved longitudinally to lit with keys 23 embedded in the arbor.

Movable segment 13 has one or more aligned tubular portions 19, welded thereto lfor passing hinge pin 20 to thus provide for hingedly securing this segment to the fixed segment. Movable segment 14 is secured in the same manner, but to the other side of the fixed segment, for pivotal movement about the axis of hinge pin 21.

Referring to FIGURE 2, it will be seen that wedge member 15 has inclined surfaces 24, 25 respectively engaged with matching surfaces provided by the free ends of the movable segments. With wedge member in the position shown in FIGURE 2, the free end of the movable segments will be held in their furthermost position from the axis of the arbor to thus expand the drum. With wedge member 15 in the position shown in FIGURE 4, the free ends of the segments Will be permitted to move toward the arbor to thus collapse the drum.

The present invention provides a novel and highly advantagous arrangement of parts for effecting movement of wedge member 15 from the position shown in FIG- URES 3 and 4, to the position shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. The mechanism for accomplishing this is contained wholly within the arbor instead of at least in part being disposed between the arbor and the drum segments as has been done in the past. Accordingly, the present invention permits a relatively large arbor to be used with a relatively small diameter drum because it is not necessary to provide space therebetween for the operating mechanism and thus much heavier coils may be accommodated because of the larger and therefore stronger arbor.

Referring particularly to FIGURE 1, it will be seen that arbor 11 has a longitudinally extending bore 26 having an enlarged diameter portion 27 adjacent the drum segments. Disposed within bore 26 and movable therein axially of the arbor is a rod 28 for a purpose to be seen. Although not shown, any suitable means such as, for example, a huid cylinder or the like, may be employed to eect the aforesaid movement of rod 28.

Rod 28 is reduced in diameter at 29 to provide a shoulder 30 against which is seated a collar 31. Strung upon portion 29 of rod 28 are a plurality of cams 32, 33, 34 and '35, herein shown to be four in number. Each cam, see also FIGURE 5, is in the form of a cylinder Which is proportioned for a sliding tit with bore 27. Each cam has a central aperture 36 for closely receiving rod portion 29 and each has an inclined face 37 for a purpose to be seen. Each cam has an axially extending portion 38 which serves to space it from its neighbor and the cams are clamped in end-to-end relation on rod 28 between collar 31 and a nut 39 which is threaded on the end of the rod.

Arbor 11 has a plurality of transverse apertures 40 (see also FIGURE 4) disposed adjacent respective cams and through which project respective riser pins 41. Each riser pin 41, in the position of parts shown, has its upper end secured to wedge member as by means of capscrews 42 and has its lower end formed to provide an inclined surface 43 for mating engagement with the surface 37 of respective cams.

Surrounding each riser pin is a sleeve 44 of suitable bearing metal, each sleeve being clamped between wedge member l5 and a shoulder 45 provided by respective pins. he lower portion of each riser pin is notched at 46 (see FIGURE 5) to straddle rod 2S so that the pin may move radially inwardly of the arbor without interference with the rod.

Returning to FIGURES l and 2, a plate 47 is secured by suitable screws y4S to the free end of the arbor for maintaining the reel segments assembled with the arbor. Welded or otherwise secured to respective movable segments 13, 14 adjacent plate 47 are lugs 49 which are slotted at 50 and disposed within such slots are the heads of respective socket head capscrews 51 which are threaded into plate 47. As best seen in FIGURE 2, the heads of cap screws 51 provide abutments with which respective lugs 49 are engageable to limit outward movement of the movable segments.

With the reel segments expanded as shown in FIGURE 2, the operation will be as follows. The end of the strip to be coiled will be inserted into one of the slots 52 which are formed in the xed segment. The reel will then be rotated by effecting rotation of arbor 11 by any suitable means (not shown), such as by the usual electric motor coupled with a speed reducer to thus wind strip upon the reel.

When a coil of sufficiently large size has been wound upon the reel, rotation will be stopped and the strip leading thereto severed. Rod 28 will then be shifted to the right, to the position shown in FIGURE 3, to eect simultaneous movement in this direction of cams 32, 33, 34 and 35. With the cams thus shifted, riser pins 41 will slide along respective cam inclines 37 and move radially inwardly of the arbor to the position shown in FIGURE 4 thus permitting the free ends of the movable segments 13, 14 to move radially inwardly of the arbor to thus 'effect contraction of the drum surface provided by respective segments. With the reel collapsed, the completed coil may be easily slid off the unsupported end thereof.

Rod 23 will then be moved to the left (as viewed in FIGURES l and 3) to force riser pins 41 along the respective inclines 37 of cams 32, 33, 34 and 35 and thus force the riser pins, the attached wedge member, and the free ends of the movable segments radially outwardly of the arbor axis to expand the reel once again to the position shown in FIGURES l and 2. The severed end of the strip to be coiled may then be inserted in one of the slots 52 and the arbor rotated once again to wind the strip on the drum surface provided by the reel and form another coil thereon.

It is an important feature of the present invention that the iixed and movable segments and the wedge member may readily be disassembled from the arbor for repairs or maintenance or for replacement with corresponding parts of a larger size in the event it is desired to wind coils with a larger inside diameter. Disassembly may readily be effectuated by first collapsing the reel as before described to the position shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, removing the screws .-3 which hold end plate 47 assembled with the arbor, and then removing the end plate. Fixed segment l2, together with movable segments i3, i4- pivotally secured thereto, may then be removed as a unit by pulling them in the direction of the arrow (see FIGURE 6) off the unsupported end of the arbor. Wedge l5 will next be removed by moving it in the direction of the arrow to withdraw riser pins 41 from the apertures 4G in the arbor. Reassembly will be efectuated by reversing the above operations.

If it is desired to wind coils of a larger inside diameter, the iixed and movable segments l2, 13 and 14 and the wedge member 15 may be replaced with similar but larger sized parts as shown in FIGURES 7 and 8. Since these parts are similar to the parts hereinbefore described, they are identified with the same reference characters but with the suffix "a added. It will be noted that because of the greater span between the arbor and the drum forming parts, certain spacer members, such as indicated at 53 and 54, are employed; however, the general construction of these larger parts is similar to these heretofore described and the operation is, of course, identical.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURES 9 and l0 there is shown a reel particularly adapted to grip the interior of a coil of strip material and to support it for rotation so that the strip may be drawn therefrom. This reel comprises a rotatably mounted arbor 55 which may at times be power driven or which may be provided with a brake. Arbor 55 has a longitudinally extending bore 56 in which an elongated cylindrical cam member S7 is reciprocable. A rod 58 is disposed in bore 56 and is secured to cam 57 to effect movement thereof Aand any suitable means (not shown) may be employed to effect axial movement of the cam member.

Arbor 55 carried a plurality of drum forming segments 59 which are bodily shiftable toward and away from the arbor axis to expand and contract the drum formed by the segments. In the present embodiment, each segment has longitudinally spaced-apart riser pins 6i) secured thereto which extend through respective apertures 61 formed in the arbor and engage with the cam member.

Cam member 57 has a pocket 62 formed therein, adjacent each pin 60, providing an inclined surface 63 against which is seated a correspondingly inclined surface 64 formed on the riser pin. For a purpose to be seen, each pocket 62 also provides an inwardly projecting rib 65 which is spaced from and parallel with inclined surface 63. Each pin 60 has a groove `66 formed therein for closely receiving respective ribs 65.

In the position of parts shown in FIGURES 9 and l0, the reel is expanded; that is, segments 59 are positioned at substantially their maximum spacing from the axis of the arbor. If the rod 58 is now shifted to the right to effect movement of the cam member 57 to the right, each pin will be drawn radially inwardly of the arbor to thereupon move the segments towards the arbor axis and thus collapse the reel. Movement of rod 58 to the left and consequent movement of cam member 57 will move the riser pins radially outwardly of the arbor axis and thus expand the reel.

It will be noted in this embodiment that movement of the riser pins in either direction is directly related to movement of the cam member because these parts are interlocked together by virtue of the interengagernent of ribs 6K5 with grooves 66. It will also be noted in this embodiment that corresponding pins of respective segments and their respective pockets formed in the cam member are olf-set longitudinally from each other to avoid interference therebetween. This longitudinal offset, however, would not be necessary if the cam member were of sufficient diameter that the pockets did not extend beyond the center of the cam member.

In view of the foregoing, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have accomplished at least the principal object of my invention and it will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments herein disclosed may be variously changed and modiiied without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that the invention is capable of uses and has advantages not herein specifically described; hence it will be appreciated that the herein described embodiments are illustrative only, and that my invention is not limited thereto.

I claim:

l. A reel for fitting within the small eye of a heavy coil of metal strip, comprising an elongated rotatable arbor of the cantilever type having an axial cylindrical bore intersected by a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse openings, an expansible coil-supporting drum carriedby said arbor and formed of a plurality ofy arcuate segments each constituting a part of the drum periphery, at least certain of said segments being movable toward and away Afrorn'said arbor to contract and expand said drum, a plurality of riser members respectively slidably mounted in said transverse openings and having their outer ends effective to expand said drum segments, the inner ends of said riser members being defined by plane surfaces ydisposed at an angle to the riser member axis, and an elongated operator member having longitudinally spaced cylindrical portions closely fitting within said bore for sliding movement of the operator member therein, said operator member having a plurality of longitudinally spaced plane surfaces inclined to the axis of said operator member and extending inwardly at least to said axis, the inner ends of said riser members being complementary to and engaging respective plane inclined surfaces of said operator member and being movable therealong to the innermost portion of said inclined surfaces to provide substantial drum contraction, and means for moving said operator member axially within said arbor bore to move said riser members outwardly and thus expand said drum segments While said arbor and said operator member are mutually backed up and reenforced by the closely fitting engagement of the operator member cylindrical portions within said arbor bore.

2. The construction according to claim l wherein said drum is formed of three elongated arcuate segments with one segment fixed on said arbor and the other two segments having longitudinal sides pivotally secured to respective opposite longitudinal sides of said fixed segment so that said two segments are mounted for swinging movement toward and from said arbor to contract and expand said drum, and wherein an elongated wedge member has its opposite longitudinal sides slidably engageable with the free longitudinal sides of the two swingable segments, said wedge member being connected to the outer ends of said riser members and moved transversely of said arbor by movement of said riser members.

3. The construction according to claim l wherein rows of said longitudinally spaced transverse openings are spaced about the periphery of said arbor and wherein corresponding rows of riser members are provided, said riser members slidably extending through respective transverse openings for guided movement radially of said arbor, and wherein a drum segment is secured to the outer ends of the riser members in each row whereby said segments are moved outwardly of said arbor by outward movement of said riser members.

4. The construction of claim l and further including means for holding the plane surfaces of said operator member in close operative relationwith the complementary plane surface of respective riser members in all positions of said operator member.

5. The construction of claim l wherein said riser members have sliding interlocking engagement with said operator member to maintain the complementary plane surfaces in close operative relation.

6. The construction of claim l wherein the inner end of each riser member has a dove-tail tongue slidably fitting within a corresponding dove-tail slot formed in said operating member.

7. A reel for fitting within the eye of a coil of metal strip, comprising a rotatable arbor having an axial bore ntersected by a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse openings, an expansible drum carried by said arbor for supporting said coil and formed of a plurality of arcuate segments each constituting a part of the drum periphery and at least certain of said segments being movable toward and away from said arbor to respectively contract and expand said drum, a riser member slidably mounted in each of said transverse openings, the outer ends of said riser members being effective upon outward movement of the latter to cause outward movement of said certain drurn segments and consequent expansion of said drum, the inner ends of said riser members having cam surfaces disposed in said arbor bore, an operator shaft disposed and shiftable longitudinally within said'bore, said shaft having spaced sleeves removably secured thereon and each having a cam surface slidably engageable with and complementary to a respective riser member cam surface to translate shifting movement of said operator shaft to shifting movement of said riser members, each of said sleeves including a cylindrical portion closely but slidably fitting within the arbor bore for backup purposes, the inner end of each riser member being bifurcated to divide its cam surface into two parts on opposite sides of the bifurcating slot which is aligned with said operator shaft and disposed between adjoining cylindrical sleeves and of a size to freely pass said operator shaft so that in the innermost position of each riser member the inner end thereof straddles said operator shaft between adjoining cylindrical sleeves and thus provides for long sliding interengagement of the complementary cam surfaces of respective riser members and sleeves to obtain substantial movement of said riser members in a reel of compact transverse size.

8. A reel for fitting within the small eye of a heavy coil of metal strip, comprising a tubular arbor having an axially extending opening intersected by a transverse opening, an expansible drum carried by said arbor for supporting said coil and formed of a plurality of arcuate segments each constituting a part of the drum periphery and at least certain segments being movable toward and away from said arbor to respectively contract and expand said drum, an operator member disposed within and shiftable longitudinally of said axially extending opening and having a cam portion providing a cam surface and an adjoining portion of reduced transverse size, and a riser member shiftable normal to the axis of said arbor and having its inner end disposed within said axial opening, said riser member extending through said transverse opening and having its outer end effective upon outward movement to cause movement of said certain drum segments away from said arbor to expand said drum, the inner end of said riser member having a cam surface slidably engageable with and complementary to the cam surface of said operator member to translate shifting movement of said operator member to shifting movement of said riser member, said inner end of said riser member being notched so that in its innermost position it is disposed alongside but clear of interference with the reduced portion of said operator member and thus provides for long sliding interengagement of the complementary cam surfaces of said riser and operator members to obtain maximum movement of said riser member in a reel of compact transverse size..

9. A reel for fitting within the small eye of a heavy coil of metal strip, comprising a rotatable arbor having an axial bore intersected by' a transverse opening, an expansible drum carried by said arbor for supporting said coil and formed of a plurality of arcuate segments each constituting a part of the drum periphery and at least certain of said segments being movable toward and away from said arbor to respectively contract and expand said drum, an operating shaft disposed and shiftable axially within said axial bore, said shaft having a cylindrical portion with an end face defined by a plane surface inclined to the shaft axis and also having a portion extending from said end face and reduced in transverse size, and a riser member shiftable normal to the axis of said arbor and having its inner end disposed within the arbor bore, said riser member extending through said transverse opening and having its outer end effective upon outward movement to cause movement of said certain drum segments away from said arbor-to expand said drum, the inner end of said riser member having an inclined plane surface engageable with and complementary to the plane surface of the end face of said cylindrical portion to translate shifting movement of said operating shaft to shifting movement of said riser member, said inner end of said riser member being bifurcated to divide its inclined plane surface into two parts on opposite sides of the bifurcating slot, which slot is aligned with the reduced portion of the shaft and of a size to freely pass around such portion so that in the innermost position of said riser member said inner end thereof straddles the reduced portion of the shaft and thus provides for long sliding interengagement of the complementary inclined surfaces of said riser member and operating shaftto obtain maximum movement of said riser member in a reel of compact transverse size. v

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,067,564 Warner July 15, 1913 1,438,250 Lyon Dec. 12, 1922 2,587,885 PaXson Mar. 4, 1952 2,598,398 Liften er a1. May 27, `195.2 2,727,700 Van Colle et a1. Dec. 20, 1955 2,739,764 Lanstrom Mar. 27, 1956 2,909,338 vCozzo Oct. 20, 1959 

